Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician (CRAT) Practice Exam

The rhythm characterized by regularity and five complete cycles is indeed sinus bradycardia. Sinus bradycardia is defined as a heart rate that is slower than normal (typically fewer than 60 beats per minute) while maintaining a regular rhythm. This indicates that the heart's electrical impulses are originating from the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is the natural pacemaker of the heart.

In sinus bradycardia, the rhythmic quality is present, signifying consistent intervals between heartbeats. When the rhythm is described as having five complete cycles, it refers to the clear and consistent pattern of the electrical activity as recorded on an electrocardiogram (ECG), where each cycle represents a complete heartbeat. Since the rhythm comes from the SA node, it reflects normal conduction through the atria and ventricles, thereby maintaining the regularity that is characteristic of this rhythm.

Recognizing the regularity in the heart's rhythm is crucial for diagnosing and differentiating it from other arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, which is characterized by an irregular and often chaotic rhythm. Multiformed atrial rhythm and other forms, while they might show regularity in certain situations, do not fit the specific criteria of sinus brady